Real Reform or Change for Chumps: Earmark Policy Developments, 2006-2010
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Authors
Doyle, Richard
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2011
Date
January / February 2011
Publisher
Language
Abstract
In response to widespread perceptions of problems
associated with congressional earmarks, reform efforts
began in late 2006 and continued through 2010.
This essay summarizes those problems, explains the
distribution of earmarks within Congress, and documents
their rise and relative fall between 1991 and 2010 using
government and public interest group databases. The
author explains and critiques earmark reform policies,
including congressional rules, initiatives taken by the
congressional appropriations committees, and reforms
pursued by the George W. Bush and Barack Obama
administrations. Congressional rules and committee initiated
reforms have been most effective, resulting in
significant improvements in earmark transparency and
accountability. The number and dollar value of earmarks
first dropped noticeably in fiscal year 2007 after an
earmark moratorium, and then stabilized as reforms
were implemented. It is premature to conclude that these
levels will continue or that reforms will alter the policy
content of earmarks or their distribution among members
of Congress.
Type
Article
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Graduate School of Business & Public Policy (GSBPP)
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Public Administration Review, Public Documents , January / February 2011
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.